Giving Circle of HOPE Impact 2014 - Giving Is Not As Easy As It Sounds!

In the early days (2004-2005) of the Giving Circle, we learned quickly that it is very difficult to give money away, (especially if it is other people’s money). Sure, one can always just write a check to the next organization that asks, but if the money is to be spent to address a need, one needs to know what that need is. Once the need is known, then who is working to meet that need efficiently and effectively is key.

Yet another aspect of giving money away is to define goals that are attainable, practical and most of all, beneficial. A lot of thought and community input went into defining the Giving Circle’s goals. (Two of the five are embedded in italics here.)

To learn how to give well, we turned to many sources: philanthropists, community foundations, volunteer organizations and the leaders of successful local nonprofits. Among the latter, we were especially impressed with Kerrie Wilson of Reston Interfaith, Marga Fripp of Empowered Women International, and Susan Ungerer of Kids R First.

It was clear to us that these are people who use their talents smartly but with both passion and compassion. To all of them "the poor," "people in need," "the homeless," are not just phrases; they are the names, faces, and stories of real people who have the potential to contribute to society. These leaders and many others taught us to recognize what a visionary, effective leader can do for the community. They also gave us one of our goals, “Encourage self-sufficiency and well-being among those in need.”

We were changed, motivated and inspired by them to work together to help achieve what are now mutual goals: to lift people out of poverty by teaching skills that help people not only stay afloat, but to thrive, and to empower people to change their life.  

The discovery that by just pooling money together you can transform a life (or many) is heady and humbling at the same time, that if we add time and some talent we can “create a network that is a catalyst for positive change,” even more so.

Would you like to be part of a network like this so that you too, can "promote effective philanthropy?" Read more next week.

You can find us on Facebook or visit our website: www.givingcircleofhope.org. The Giving Circle of HOPE is a donor-fund of the Community Foundation for Nothern Virginia.